]]>Meikyu Kingdom - New Kingdom Bookhttp://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/51/meikyu-kingdom-new-kingdom-book
Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:45:57 -0700ennui51@/talk/discussions
Has there been any translation work on this game at all?]]>Conventions? GenCon?http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/49/conventions-gencon
Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:00:37 -0700Diamond_Sutra49@/talk/discussionsSo if anyone plans on going to any convention (JGC, GenCon, Pax, whatever), please feel free to post here. Not likely that this disparate group of language elites will ever get a chance to all meet for drinks, but hey even if there's a remote chance at a handshaking, that would be cool.

Anyway, I'm going to GenCon 2010 (in two weeks!). No other plans other than maybe Dreamation next year in January in northern New Jersey. Next year I also plan on travelling in Japan again, and will make an attempt to swing by various places on the way.

-Andy]]>RPG Geek is Live!http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/40/rpg-geek-is-live
Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:23:39 -0700neko ewen40@/talk/discussionsRPG Geek up and running. There's already a list of Japanese RPGs, and I'd like some help submitting and expanding the database's selection of Japanese games.

I'm still feeling out how exactly to work the thing, but it apparently goes much more smoothly if you submit the relevant entries for the credits (designer, publisher, etc.), then submit the game, and then finally submit the book itself.]]>Thoughts on a Game Fan Translation Structure...http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/38/thoughts-on-a-game-fan-translation-structure-
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:43:51 -0700Diamond_Sutra38@/talk/discussionsThat's a bit of work, though.

I was kind of going through some ways to help reduce the physical costs of translation: In other words, make some cold hard cash that I can apply like a *Shippu* to the sore muscles in my neck from all the PC-work.

One thought I had was this: In the game, you make characters by combining various classes (Grappler 2/Sage 1; Fey Tamer 1/Sorcerer 1/Fencer 1; etc). You can theoretically begin with a "level 3" in a class, but practically it's pretty impossible, level 2 is the highest for the "Major Classes" (Fighter, All magic-users, etc; "Minor Classes" are the sub-classes of Fencer, Shooter, Sage, Ranger and Scout).

Then it hit me. I could do something like this:

1) Buy a bunch of copies of the game. If you want to play Sword World, your gaming group must own at least one copy of the rulebook. That's the Laaaaaaaaw. No book, no copy of the rules. If I don't do that and charge money for my translation to people who don't have the book, I'm stealing from Group SNE. If I decide to do it all for free and give away translations, that's morally less gray, but I simply won't ever be motivated enough to do it, ever, thus it won't happen. Dilemma.

Anyway, continuing. You've bought a copy of the book for your group. You can't read moonspeak, so it's mostly a display item. Costing $10USD plus a few bucks for shipping.

2) My translation comes with all the races, classes, all the basic rules, setting, weapons tables, character sheet, etc, but in completely simple detail, focusing more on the "rules bits" than the bits on things like "How to GM", etc. Because honestly, if you've come this far, you know what RPGs are. No need for that.

3) The classes in the book have abilities (read: Magic) listed from levels 1-6. As explained above, you can create a character up to level 2 in a magic-using class (theoretically 3 for non-magic classes, but no one would do that). So what I do is, I translate all the magic abilities up to level 3 for all the magic classes: Sorcerer, Conjurer, Priest, Fey Tamer, Magitech, etc; but not 4-6. I translate all the combat abilities for the B-grade weapons, but not A-grade weapons (you can take an A-grade weapon buy buying it with kind of a D&D-like Feat) for the fighting classes. So this will let you play the game, and even gain one level before you hit a wall.

4) Then, I translate the magic using abilities 4-6 for each class in a separate document (each), as well as the A-grade weapons.

5) Players, when they create their character, decide which Major Class they want. Then, they basically (either themselves, or preferably through their GM) pay $5 to get the "unlock" for your character. So, I basically see it like, this:GM emails me, says "We're playing Sword World. I bought a copy of the game already. In my group we have a Magitech, Priest, and Sorcerer. Here's $15". And I'd basically email them the rules packets for the Magitech, Priest and Sorcerer abilities. I figure $5 per player is a totally fine minimum investment to play a game, either for one session or an extended campaign even.

6) And a caveat of something like, "If you buy 4 packets (or just flat-out spend $20) then you'll get ALL the data of ALL the classes, so you can pretty much play indefinitely.

7) Only thing is, at that point the investment is already about $33 total: $13 for the game plus shipping plus the free translation, plus $5 per person for four packets (which gives all the data). Still, when considering the per-player cost, it totally works out.

Thoughts? I think something like this would both be morally white (cause you have to buy a copy to play anyway), and rewards me for the time spent translating. The micropayment system I think would work, since there's only about 10 groups out there that would be maniac enough to play this cool J-RPG anyway.

Just a thought for something like Sword World. For a larger/more complicated game like Alshard ff, I'd want to try a GroupSource method (several translators tackle one section each), where everyone works absolutely for free, and the translation costs no money.]]>Yaruki Zero Games Podcast on J-RPGshttp://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/35/yaruki-zero-games-podcast-on-j-rpgs
Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:32:05 -0700neko ewen35@/talk/discussionspodcast, and so far I've been keeping up a weekly schedule. I've been talking a lot about Japanese and anime-inspired RPGs, on account of that's one of the few RPG-related things I can talk about where there aren't a dozen people who've been doing better for longer.

Anyway, for the next episode Andy and I will be joining forces to talk about Japanese TRPGs, and we're planning to record on Thursday evening. So, the question I have for the J-RPG Talk folks is: What would you like to hear us talk about? For this episode I want to do kind of a general overview of major topics, and get into more fine details in future podcasts.]]>Canadian Gamer versus Japan (regarding JGC)http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/37/canadian-gamer-versus-japan-regarding-jgc
Sun, 24 May 2009 22:09:54 -0700ScooterinAB37@/talk/discussions
Here's the trick. I know that my language skills won't yet be up to playing in a game. I would love to attend though, and just watch what games are there and see what the convention is like.

Is anyone planning to go, and would someone be willing to help me out during the event? I've only learned basic sentences and very limited vocabulary, and I know the whole experience will be very stressful. I'd really appreciate if I could meet someone at the convention and maybe get a hand.

Thanks,
Scooter]]>Japanese OCR: What do you recommend?http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/33/japanese-ocr-what-do-you-recommend
Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:51:53 -0800Diamond_Sutra33@/talk/discussions1) What do you use? (and what platform: PC, Mac, etc)

2) How much success have you had?

3) What kinds of projects have you used with it in the past?

I'm looking to see what might be worth my while on possible future fan projects.]]>Games That Have Caught My Eye Vol. 1http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/31/games-that-have-caught-my-eye-vol-1
Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:27:27 -0800Mark Causey31@/talk/discussions迷宮デイズ - from the makers of Meikyuu Kingdom, we have a school drama. I'm betting you do some design work like the dungeons in MK, but I'm not sure. The cover art is nice.

Embryo Machine - Apparently a medieval Europe mecha game with no magic or supernaturalness. Character sheet makes it look like you stat your mech and your character. Main Site

Trouble Aliens It looks like a Men In Black style game. The character sheet looks sleek, with four stats.

School Days Panic Based on the character sheet, it looks like it uses a lot of cards. Another school drama!]]>Datahttp://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/26/data
Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:45:58 -0800ryuuchiba26@/talk/discussionsMy advisor is railing me for data concerning role-playing in Japan and I'm grasping at straws if feels like. So I come to you on my knees for help. Does anyone know of any data or statistics for TRPG? Like something done by FEAR or Group SNE for example. I tried looking up their own data online but I couldn't find anything other than what they say on their sites.

So anything would be appreciated.]]>Night Wizard?http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/25/night-wizard
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:51:32 -0700burnout0225@/talk/discussions
Just some questions...

1.) I've read the translated SRS document; Does the game run on the same system? Several of the classes seem highly distinct from the other, to the point where the multiclass system seems a bit, well, odd- The idea of a Vampire-Werewolf makes me shudder in reflexive fear of muchikinism, and kung-fu Ninja angels are kinda a stretch, at best.

2.) Exactly how is 'School-Life' and 'Night-Life' separated? Is it the kind of distinction in say, Bliss Stage, where School-Life is an essential part of gameplay, or is it like, say an eroge, where it's only distantly related to the RPG aspect? How do bizarre characters, like motorcycle-riding Knights and time-displaced soldiers fit into the modern world?

3.) How do the heroes get supplies, equipment, missions? Is there some kind of universal 'currency' you get from beating the bad guys? Or is it more like a roguelike, where you have to scrounge up components, weapons and armor as you go along?

4.) Exactly what are the game's Big Bads, the Demon Lords? From the anime, they seem to be largely amiable enemies, more focused on skirmishing than the whole 'invading the earth' thing. Are they meant to be final bosses? Cosmic Horrors like Exalted's deathlords? Possible love interests? (I mean, they're all bishoujo. The question *has* to be asked.) How do they stack up against your average party?

5.) What kind of bad guys ('Emulators') can the heroes expect to fight? Wraith-the-oblivion Spectres? The D&D bestiary? Or World Of Darkness-style horrors, like Banes and Umbral creatures?

6.) I'm privately fascinated by the esoteric Dream-Hunter, Otoshigo, and Emulator Summoner classes. How do they work, exactly? The Dream-Hunter, in particularly, is an awesome concept...But I have no idea how it would work on paper. The whole idea of the Otoshigo is that they're the 'spawn of demon lords'. Does that mean they're literally the children of them? (*grin*) How do dudes like the more-straightforward classes like Hero, Killing Machine and Magical Swordsman differ from the 'generic' fighter?

7.) Is there a limited campaign arc, like Tenra Bansho Zero? Y'know, 108 points and...Boom. Or Bliss Stage, where 108 points and...Well, boom. In fact, what're the adventures like? Monster-of-the-week? (Seems to be, considering the bad guys attack mostly when the red moon is out). Do all these weird adventures affect the real world? Do the heroes even have powers in the 'real world'?

Whew. That's really a lot of questions. But I'm dying to know as much as possible about this strangely compelling setting...]]>Japan Game Convention, "JGC"http://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/23/japan-game-convention-jgc
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:17:47 -0700Diamond_Sutra23@/talk/discussionsJGC falls so close to GenCon, because I'd like to go to it one of these years (maybe in two years?).

In any case, I'm trying to gather photo reports of Japan's biggest yearly gaming con. Unfortunately, there's not too many out there. Mr. Kokado from Sunset Games attended, and took a bunch of pictures.

Here's some highlights:

MAID RPG Cosplay

Yuuyake Koyake Session

So, one of the things that I dig about JGC is that it takes place at one giant hotel, so pretty much everyone who travels to go there stays at that one hotel. Japanese hotel undoubtedly means sento or onsen. I'm not sure about the new location, but a previous hotel it used to happen at looked like a paradise of public baths, yukata and gaming. Imagine: Wake up, take a soak in a huge hot bath, put on a comfortable hotel yukata ("kimono"), and lazily do gaming with friends and strangers for hours. Retire to your room, eat delicious regional foods prepared in a group dining environment, go for another soak, then retire to your room for some late night snacks and more games.

Pretty much my Dream Con (and I couldn't make it happen when I lived in Japan, because it was impossible to schedule more than 3 foreigners for any given weekend, and onsen vacations tend to be expensive) would be to gather a bunch of friends, like 12-20, for a convention in a hot springs resort. Maybe split up over 3-4 rooms in a resort at a place like Minakami, Ikaho, or maybe south towards Beppu, and basically waffle back and forth between gaming, sleeping, bathing, and eating delicious regional foods for a few days.... ahhhh.....

...but I digress. I'll use this threads to post links to pics of JGC 2008.]]>J-RPGs at GenConhttp://j-rpg.com/talk/discussion/17/j-rpgs-at-gencon
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:20:49 -0700neko ewen17@/talk/discussionsI will be releasing Maid RPG in English. I'm running two registered sessions (there's still 3 slots left on the Thursday evening one BTW), and I and a couple of my friends may be running some more at Games On Demand. For selling the book, we'll be sharing a booth with Jerry Grayson, who'll be premiering Hellas: Worlds of Sun and Stone.

Some folks from Adventure Planning Service are running two sessions of Meikyu Kingdom, and apparently they're going to make replays of both for a Japanese game magazine. As I write this the Saturday session has one slot left. I don't know if that means they've got an English version ready or they're just doing some early promotion.

Andy's going to have a demo pack for Tenra Bansho Zero. I'll let the man himself comment on what he might be running.

As I mentioned before, I'm translating an excerpt of Yuuyake Koyake for my graduate thesis project. That excerpt isn't quite enough to actually play it, but if I have time before the con I'd like to get that much done (it'll mainly be the Powers and Weaknesses) and run a session or two at Games On Demand.

Unfortunately, the 4th issue will be the last. Too bad, the mag seemed pretty interesting: General geek culture, with directed interviews and the like (Mike Mignola interviews, inside info, etc). So while better than "just reading this stuff on the internet", it seems that it didn't have time to find its niche. Plus, it was created as a replacement to Newtype USA rather than its own thing, and apparently that crowd was disappointed about the lack of anime content. Too bad.

But hey, I got promptly paid for my article, and they were a really great staff to work for. So I wish them the best if they move on to another venture.

-+-+-+-+-+-

Also, that's the kind of article that got me ramped up about writing about gaming in Japan. I started years ago for the comic release of "BASTARD!!" in the US, Jason Thompson(?)(then with Viz), a talented comic author and all-around cool guy, signed me up for a series of articles about RPGs and roleplaying in Japan, and that fired me up back in 2002-2003 or so.

The only unfortunate thing about the situation was that, honestly, BASTARD!! is a worthless piece of shit. The first say 1-2 years of content (and the Anime!) are hardcore heavy metal fantasy awesome, starring a Fire Mage instead of a Hulky Barbarian type. But shortly thereafter, it hits the serialized manga mediocrity level pretty fast.

The art is pretty, his concepts and art of angels, floating citadels, bloody battles and the like are fucking awesome and metal, even years into the book (on a lark, back in like 1996 I picked up the latest of the series, then "Graphic Novel #17 or #27 or something). But the manga became a platform for the author's Giant Tits Fetish, and that was that. The young maiden's (maidens', actually) boobs get ridiculously bigger (and more exposure time too!) over the months and years, until even 8-10 years ago the hardcore of the hardcore fans of the series from the beginning simply gave up, washing their hands of the mess, as the story simply made no more sense anymore, and wasn't even entertaining anymore.

BUT, at least the first run of the comics were pretty decent for the first year or two of the material, and it went hand-in-hand with RPG stuff (because it was spawned out of classic D&D. And heavy metal music).

I'm going to be writing more articles here as free time becomes available. And I've also lined up a podcast interview over at Yellow Menace (an awesome site BTW, check it out!). I'll drop the details when that goes live.]]>